PARTY tips
Invite Right
Send invitations four to six weeks before a formal party, and a few days or week before a casual one. Printed or hand-written invitations are a lovely, standout touch: but be prepared to follow up with a phone call, as RSVPs require slightly more effort for guests than a one-click electronic option!
Try evite.com or paperlesspost.com.
Seat of Power
For a lively dinner table, split up couples and friends who arrive together. The chattiest guests should be on opposite sides of the table, and not facing each other. Host(s) and guests of honour should sit at the ends of the table. Remember that conversation flows across the table, too.
Don’t Burn the Toast
Designate the right guest to prepare and deliver the first toast early; if done right, it will set the tone for others to follow. It should be short, funny and sweet, devoid of in-jokes or “roast”-style humour.
Late Bloomers
Don’t hold dinner for latearriving guests (unless they’re the guests of honour, of course!). Graciously give latecomers an estimated ETA for dessert, to relieve their stress and to allow the specialoccasion celebration to unfold without disruption.